Big Questions in Ecology and Evolution

• The first accessible companion text covering the broad spectrum of ecology and evolutionary biology since Colinvaux's classic 1978 book.
• Authored by two excellent young scientists with good and growing reputations, and an easy and attractive writing style.
• Addresses some key problems and challenges in evolutionary biology, population biology, community ecology, biogeochemistry, and conservation ecology.

Readership: Suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in evolutionary ecology, as well as professional researchers in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology.

Thomas N. Sherratt, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Canada, and David M. Wilkinson, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

"Each chapter is an exciting and thrilling read...This is fascinating book. Every ecologist will profit from reading it, enjoying the in-depth-analysis of central ecological questions." - Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

"The serious fun of Big Questions in Ecology and Evolution comes from considering the child-like "why?" Unlike the average responses to questions posed by children, here Sherratt and Wilkinson offer answers as good as science currently can deliver." - SCIENCE

"These authors are two excellent scientists with good and growing reputations. Big Questions in Ecology and Evolution is a curiosity-driven book, written in an easy and appealing writing style. It is accessible to anybody with an interest in ecology and evolution, and transmits the excitement of the field by discussing major, not yet fully answered questions." - Violaine Nicolas, Mammalia

Preface
1: Why do we age?
2: Why sex?
3: Why cooperate?
4: Why species?
5: Why are the tropics so diverse?
6: Is nature chaotic?
7: Why is the land green?
8: Why is the sea blue?
9: When did we start to change things?
10: How will biosphere end?
11: General Conclusions
Species List
Glossary
Bibliography
Subject Index